By Laura Jane.
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This time Get Heavy UK journey out in to the cold evening to visit Manchester Club Academy for a fiercely stacked lineup and a completely sold‑out show. Manchester Club Academy is a tight, intimate space, and with bands famed for their ferocity and wild crowd energy on the bill, I was excited from the start to see what the night had in store.
Tonight’s lineup brings together an absolutely stacked selection of talent, featuring Corpse Pile, 200 Stab Wounds, Inferi, and headliners Cryptopsy. I’m genuinely surprised that, with the level of interest around this tour, the venue wasn’t upgraded. With the size of these bands and the strength of their fanbases, they easily could have filled a larger space.
I understand it ultimately comes down to cost and venue availability, but if this wasn’t considered, I genuinely feel it should have been.
Opening the night was Corpse Pile, a band I’d only briefly come across before. Hailing from Houston, Texas and formed in 2019 the band have gone from strength to strength recently gaining momentum in the metal scene with a very promising future ahead of them from what was witnessed first hand tonight.
Their set hit with a raw, unfiltered and unapologetic aura that never faulted throughout their full set, true violence through sound is one phrasing that could be used to describe their set.
Between songs, vocalist made a strong point to highlight struggles that are going on throughout the world bringing awareness to politics and how the world is. I want to give major credit to the band for the inclusivity they championed throughout their set — shouting out queer and trans fans, and reminding everyone that people should be free to be themselves and live how they choose. It was genuinely refreshing to see a band support their fans in a way that felt humble without ever becoming overbearing. Their performance felt raw, tight, and completely unfiltered. Even from the back of the venue, you could feel the appreciation that was being given from the audience.
Corpse Pile are clearly on the rise, and after a performance like this, it’s impossible not to believe they’re headed for something huge. More people need to hear what they’re bringing to the scene.
Following that brutal onslaught, Inferi took to the stage next — and this was the moment the wave of crowd‑surfers truly began, hammering the barriers and keeping the Showsec team firmly on their toes.
Inferi were completely new to me before tonight—something I know I often say in my reviews, but in this case it’s genuinely true. Even so, they absolutely did not disappoint. Their set hit hard, powered by an impressive vocal range and tight musicianship, but what stood out just as much was how visibly happy they looked performing. You could see the joy on their faces as they played, fully immersed in the music they create, and that energy carried straight into the crowd. Inferi absolutely claimed the stage as their own, unleashing a brutal performance that showed Manchester exactly who they are and what they stand for.
Inferi absolutely deserve far more attention than they’re currently getting. Out of the entire lineup, they were the band that seemed to fly under the radar the most, and it really showed when the crowd was asked who had heard of them before—the response was noticeably quiet.
The band hadn’t even hit the stage yet and the venue was already erupting with cheers… up next: 200 Stab Wounds. I’ll be honest — I never paid much attention to 200 Stab Wounds, but after that set, I’m kicking myself for not giving them more listening time. After chatting with a few people on the barrier beforehand, it was clear there was a real buzz around the band — the anticipation for what they were about to deliver was unmistakable. They stepped onto the stage with an aura that radiated confidence — they were here to bring the noise, no messing about. Featuring tracks such as "Hands of Eternity", "Skin Milk" and "Drilling Your Head" the crowd’s enthusiasm only intensified as the set went on.
An unreal performance. The crowd erupted as they left the stage, and a charged buzz rippled through the venue. After witnessing their performance, it’s clear why this band attracts the level of hype they do. Even before stepping into the venue tonight, the buzz online was overwhelmingly positive, and the anticipation for their Manchester show was huge. Seeing them live, they more than lived up to it—delivering a set that absolutely justified every bit of excitement surrounding them.
Cryptopsy closed the night, and before the first 20 seconds had passed — complete with Matt McGachy’s trademark hair‑water flicks — the crowd was already pouring over the barriers and the chaos kicked off. By now, the Showsec crew looked seriously on edge as wave after wave of people hit the barrier. By this point, I’m pretty sure the venue security were questioning every career choice that led them to this show.You can tell a gig’s hitting hard when the crowd surfers keep climbing back in for round two.
Once the opening three songs wrapped up, the band gave a shout‑out to the local photographers and urged the crowd to take things up a notch, signalling that it was time to push the energy even higher. And to be fair, that’s exactly what happened. The energy in the room shot through the roof, with movement coming from every corner. Even those at the back were fully involved, headbanging along as the intensity kicked in.
There were moments during the show where the mix seemed a little flat, which suggested there might have been a few minor technical hiccups along the way. Even so, the bands powered through it with real professionalism. The energy onstage never dipped, and the bands kept the audience moving from start to finish.
Overall, the night was chaotic, it was loud, and it’s definitely one that will stay with the crowd for a long time. What stood out most was the crowd’s reaction to what was in front of them. People weren’t just watching—they were invested 100% to what was happening on stage and what was happening in the room around them. Heads banging up and down and shouting along with every word they knew. Even those on the edges were vibrating with the energy coming off the stage, it's rare you see that at a gig in this day and age. It was a solid evening delivered at the highest level.
The show definitely had its comedic moments, especially with the sheer number of fans launching into crowd‑surfing again and again. By the end of the night it felt like at least half of the audience had taken part throughout the evening. I genuinely felt for the security team tonight — they were working nonstop, and they handled every single landing with patience, strength, and good humour. They absolutely deserve a standout shout‑out. Their effort kept the night running smoothly and did the venue a real service.
Every band on this bill showed exactly why music brings people together in so many unforgettable ways. With the calibre of bands tearing through the UK and ripping Manchester apart right now, 2026 is shaping up to be a monster—and we’re not even out of January yet...
If you’d like to find out more about any of the bands playing tonight, just tap the links below.
Corpse Pile
Photography by Laura Jane Photography on behalf of Get Heavy UK. Images are not to be redistributed, reproduced, or used elsewhere without prior permission.
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